It is one of the most important festivals for the Kumauni people as it signifies not only the victory of good over evil but also end of the winter season and the start of the new sowing season which holds great importance for this agricultural community of the North Indian Himalayas.
While, to some it might resemble Thumri because of the presence of Shringar Ras in it but it is totally different, the way the Bandish are rendered, elaborated and the way some of the Raags are presented.
Baithki Holi (बैठकी होली), (literally Sitting Holi) is a form of musical gathering starting from the day of Basant Panchmi held all across Kumaon till the Dulhendi (or the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna).
Other than these Teental and keharwa are widely used & at times one may also find Dadra being used but in most common case it is Chanchar -Teental -Keharwa in a Sitarkhani gat.
The songs are usually religious in nature and concern tales from the life of the Hindu God Krishna and Ram .
The songs of the Khari Holi are sung by the people, sporting traditional white nokdaar topi, churidar payajama and kurta, dance in groups to the tune of ethnic musical instruments like the dhol, joda (metal instrument), and Hurka.
Dulhendi known as chharadi (छरड़ी), in Kumaoni (from chharad (छरड़), or natural colours made from flower extracts, ash and water) is celebrated with great gusto much in the same way as all across North India.
The culmination of the holi celebrations takes place with throwing abeer and gulal in the air and reciting out aloud in unison the following prayer in Kumaoni for a healthy and prosperous year ahead.
हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thousand years) हमार आमा बुबू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our grandparents live for a hundred thousand years) हमार इजा बौजू जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our parents live for a hundred thousand years) हमार दाज्यू भौजी जी रौला सौ लाख बरिस (may our brothers and their families live for a hundred thousand years) हो हो हो लख रे (may you live a hundred thousand years) Special culinary preparations for Holi include gujia (fried dumpling filled with a sweet filling of roasted Mava(Solid milk extract), and dry fruits and nuts) and Aaloo ke Gutke (आलू के गुटके), which is fried boiled potatoes seasoned with Dhania patta (Coriander leaves) with local spices and Bhaang ki Chutney.
Apart from its symbolic significance of victory of pious Prahlad over his evil father Hiranyakashipu's plans.
In Kumaon holi also signifies the end of the long Himalayan winter and the beginning of a new sowing season which is to be celebrated it also means a break from the rigorous life of hard agricultural labour for a few days for the Kumaoni peasantry.